Amputation Injuries and Car Accidents

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Car accidents happen all too often in Alabama. These accidents can be minor to severe, causing those involved to suffer serious injuries. The most traumatic of accidents can wind up leading to amputation injuries. When cars collide at extreme rates of speed, they can become intertwined to the point where the victims need to be extricated.  Amputation injuries from auto accidents are more common than most people believe, and they can lead to the loss of arms, legs, feet, fingers, toes or hands.

Amputation in the United States

In the U.S., there are more than 2 million people who are living with an amputated limb or other part of the body. This number goes up by approximately 185,000 people every year. A traumatic amputation is one in which the arm, leg, foot, hand or digit is removed due to an accident. The leading cause of traumatic amputations in the United States, according to the Amputation Coalition, is car accidents. After car accidents, the next leading causes are:

  • Accidents in the workplace
  • Agricultural accidents
  • Explosives and firearms accidents
  • Electrocution
  • Accidents involving ring traction
  • Car door and building door accidents

Of all of the traumatic amputation injuries, the most common are those involving the arms. The older you get, the higher the risk of a traumatic amputation. The people at the highest risk for such an injury are those who are 85 years of age and older.

The Common Causes of Amputation Due to Car Accidents

Victims of car accidents who might need to have a limb or digit amputated most often need this surgery because of poor circulation. When you suffer an injury to a limb or other extremity, it can cause the arteries to narrow, which means less oxygen will flow through the bloodstream. This can cause the extremity affected to either change color or even die. This is what is known as peripheral arterial disease and it affects the tissue.

When amputation is performed, it can help save the remainder of the body part and even the car accident victim’s life. If any of the following are present after the accident, the only option might be amputation:

  • Infection: When a limb or extremity becomes infected, it can affect the tissue. When an infection becomes severe, it can lead to the amputation of the affected area.
  • Trauma: 45% of all amputations every year occur because of trauma.
  • Vascular Disease: The leading cause of amputations is vascular disease, which accounts for 54% of these types of injuries. The flow of blood in your body decreases when the body fails to carry enough blood throughout itself. When a specific limb experiences a reduction in blood flow, it will need to be amputated.

Car Accidents That Lead to Amputation

The most common car accidents that lead to amputation include:

  • Side collisions
  • Head-on collisions
  • T-bone accidents
  • Rollover accidents

Even though any type of car accident can lead to an amputation, the four types of accidents listed above tend to lead to amputation more often than all other car accident types.

How to Recover Following an Amputation

The wound needs to be sealed immediately after an amputation. Fluid needs to be drained from the area affected and the wound needs to be closed using stitches or staples. Once the wound is closed and drained, it should be covered with multiple bandages to avoid dirt from getting on it, which could lead to an infection. You can be fitted for a prosthetic limb, if you so choose, which can be done a couple of weeks after the amputation takes place. You will also need to go through an extensive rehabilitation process.

Call to Schedule an Appointment with an Experienced Attorney Today

Were you injured in a car accident in Alabama? Did you lose a limb or digit because of the severity of your injuries? Amputation is a serious injury, and if the accident was the fault of another party, you deserve to be fully compensated. Call the office of Chip Nix, Attorney at Law, at 334-279-7770 today to schedule a free consultation and case assessment. We will meet with you to thoroughly analyze your case and advise you of your legal rights and options.

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